Do you ever think about what to cook or drink in your Yoga Retreats?

“I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the Ayurveda recipe called Golden Milk (or Haldi dood in Hindi and Urdu). There are so many recipes online and so many variations.”

What makes this drink so special?

The magical healing powers from this drink are real and amazing.

I have a personal story that comes to mind. When I was 14, my doctor had discovered I had a fibroid growing in my uterus. The doctor insisted we monitor it but my mother insisted we get rid of it… by having me consume haldi dood. To be honest, I am not really a fan of a strong turmeric flavour. In curries, it’s one thing, but with milk… let’s just say it’s an acquired taste.

The miracle

I drank this every night for a week and one day, the fibroid… I can’t think of a nice way to put this… exited my body. I insisted to have an ultrasound after, despite my doctor insisting that that’s not how it worked with fibroids. Lo! And behold! There was no longer a fibroid.

It makes sense

It heats your blood up and encourages cell regeneration. For women, it’s best for managing menstrual cramps, as it is an anti-inflammatory and helps with the shedding of the uterus lining during this time. In Pakistan, my mom told me how women would drink a large glass of this with a very concentrated amount of turmeric before giving birth, when they were in labour and the baby was crowning. It’s amazing!

I still drink it when it’s my time of the month and highly recommend it for any woman who suffers.

It also alleviates muscle and joint pain

And it’s good for your immune system and digestion. As I said above, it does heat your blood up, so it’s really nice in the winter, before bed, for a nice relaxed sleep, but this also means it increase your blood pressure slightly, so if you have high blood pressure, maybe make it with less turmeric and have it once or twice a month, or check with your doctor.

I’ll give my version and I will add my mother’s ingredients below. Hers is the traditional way that has been passed through my family in Pakistan, Canada and now, Barcelona. I like my way for a more mild version but the traditional way is always the best!

This recipe makes one cup for you!

What you will need:

½ cup of milk – any type is fine but I prefer whole milk (full fat milk was the only option!)

Step 1.

In a pan, on a low-medium heat, gently melt the butter and turmeric together. When the turmeric becomes a darker yellow paste, add the milk and water. This happens quickly and you don’t want it to turn a dark brown and stick. It’ll taste bitter.

Step 2.

Add the rest of the ingredients and make sure the heat is low and constant. Bring to a light simmer and you’ll see the mixture thicken.

Step 3.

My mom would remove the clove, cardamom and star anise, and then she would blend the nuts and date with a hand blender in the pot. I don’t like it so thick but to each their own.

Step 4.

Put into a mug and enjoy! You can sweeten it with sugar or honey. I prefer honey.